Planning on camping with your horses?? I would like to share areas we have camp with our horses from British Columbia all the way down south to Utah, Nevada & Arizona. Visit our web site www.campingandhorses.com

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Monday, 10 February 2014

SUPERSTITION MOUNTAINS

Yesterday we went into town to go to the Mesa Market. This is like a huge Swap Meet located off Signal Butt on Baseline (http://mesamarket.com/) address is 10550 E Baseline Rd Mesa AZ 85209

The mountain range is in the federally designated Superstition Wilderness Area, and includes a variety of natural features in addition to its namesake mountain. Weavers Needle, a prominent landmark and rock climbing destination set behind and to the east of Superstition Mountain, is a tall erosioned remnant[1] that plays a significant role in the legend of the Lost Dutchman's Gold Mine. Peralta Canyon, on the northeast side of Superstition Mountain, contains a popular trail that leads up to Freemont Saddle, which provides a very picturesque view of Weavers Needle. Miner's Needle is another prominent formation in the wilderness and a popular hiking destination.

As with most of the terrain surrounding the Phoenix metropolitan area, the Superstition Mountains have a desert climate, with high summer temperatures and a handful of perennial sources of water. The altitude in the more remote, eastern portion of the wilderness is higher than the western portion, which lowers temperatures slightly. Numerous hiking trails cross the mountains from multiple access points, including the Peralta Trailhead, the most popular.[2] The Lost Dutchman State Park, located on the west side of Superstition Mountain, includes several short walking trails.

Superstition legends

The legend of the Lost Dutchman's Gold Mine centers around the Superstition Mountains. According to the legend, a German immigrant named Jacob Waitz discovered a mother lode in the Superstition Wilderness and revealed its location on his deathbed in Phoenix in 1891 to Julia Thomas, a boarding-house owner who had taken care of him for many years. Several mines have been claimed to be the actual mine that Waitz discovered, but none of those claims have been verified. The legends and lore of the Superstition Mountains can be experienced at the Superstition Mountain Museum on the Apache Trail where artifacts of the Lost Dutchman are on display.

Some Apaches believe that the hole leading down into the lower world, or hell, is located in the Superstition Mountains. Winds blowing from the hole are supposed to be the cause of severe dust storms in the metropolitan region.

At this point on the trail Ron waited with his horse and Alan and I rode the Mules as far as we could go up.

Looking back at the view

Alan and his mule Foxy climbing higher and higher

Again looking behind us at the view

Yes there is a trail there and we did get the mules up past this.

Even higher we went

This was about the end of the line for the mules

To the right it is straight down, the trail to the left goes straight up. Looks like this is about as far as a four legged animal can go.

Heading back down

We meet back up with Ron and went around the left side of the mountain

Horses are my passion. I have enjoyed many disciplines on horseback over my life. I got my first pony as a child. She was a palomino and white pinto pony. I show her in almost ever discipline and had so much fun. As I got older I got into the hunter jumper seen. Showing, riding and breeding hunter jumpers for the show ring, until I discover camping with your horses. Now I have gone back to my roots. I have always loved the coloured horses as they remind me of my first pony Tammy. We now breed American Paint horses and at this time own 5 of them. Four of them are Black and whites and the other is a dark bay and white. My husband and I now travel all over in our trailer with our 2 of our horses discovering new trails. I love to share where we go so that other riders can also share the same distinctions. When we first started I could not find places on the internet to travel too. There are many destinations that do not advertise it is word of mouth. This is were my web site and blog come in handy for those of you looking. Visit our home page at http://www.canoafarms.com and also visit our Camping and horses web page at http://www.campingandhorses.com